Explosive Reaction after Fears over College Chemicals

Article excerpt

ACONTROLLED explosion was carried out on Newcastle's Town Moor after hazardous chemicals were removed from the city's college.

Early yesterday, Northumbria Police were told potentially dangerous chemicals had been identified at Newcastle College.

The concerns surrounded the way the chemicals had been stored.

A cordon was placed around the college site in the city's Scotswood Road while the materials were taken away to be disposed of safely.

Officers said there was "nothing untoward or suspicious" about the chemicals and the concerns were purely about how they had been stored.

The controlled explosion was carried by an Explosives Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team on the Town Moor just after 9.30am.

The college caters for about 20,000 students A force spokesman said: "We would like to stress there was nothing untoward or suspicious about this incident. A diligent member of staff raised concern and as a precaution the chemicals were disposed of safely by explosives ordnance disposal. …